Monday, 16 September 2013

Do you believe in miracles?

I certainly don’t. Growing up, I attended a Church of
England primary school so used to follow Christianity. The concept of miracles seemed perfectly
plausible as a youngster but since I was diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia at
the tender age of 9, all my life experiences have made me streetwise and a
great believer of logic. There are occasions where my common sense goes out the
window and I imagine what life would be like if one day, I woke-up and
discovered I could suddenly walk. Then, I slap myself around the face and get
back to reality.

I’m not criticising those who claim miracles do happen, it’s
just that I feel they are complete nonsense. The belief that ill people may be miraculously
cured is comforting for many as the idea of someone suffering an affliction for
the rest of their life is difficult to comprehend for humans. However, in the
same way that it is impossible for a blue Ford Anglia to fly through the air
(Harry Potter reference), realism should tell you that a person cannot be
magically made better. For example, if a patient suddenly wakes up from a coma,
it is not a miracle. There will either be a logical, scientific explanation or
it is pure luck and a mere coincidence. Why does God or the like have to be the
answer?

The reason I am having this mini debate (it feels like I’m
back at school writing an Ethics essay) is because when I went swimming on
Friday, I stood up in the pool and my legs felt abnormally strong. Like I said,
I don’t believe in miracles and deep down knew it was probably something to do
with the water holding me upright. I was only standing for a minute and soon
returned to having jelly legs but for that brief moment, I got carried away. I
wondered what would be the first thing I’d do if I could walk again. Jump? Run?
Find a football and kick it?

My next thought was that I would probably never know if I
was suddenly made better. I wouldn’t have the confidence to try and walk.
Hypothetically speaking, what if I went to get out of my chair and had a really
bad fall? I’m not brave enough to test if a miracle has happened because in all
likelihood, I’d end up hurting myself. It’s not worth the pain.

Also, I don’t know if I’d want to be able bodied. Obviously,
it would be preferable to not be disabled in the first place but 10 years after
diagnosis, I can’t imagine life without Friedreich’s Ataxia. A miracle would
definitely make my life easier but all the negative aspects of being a
‘Wheelchair Boy’ is what makes me into the person I am today. Everything would
be extremely different, and not necessarily for the better.